Sandwich merchandising machine



July 7, 1959 c. GABRlELSEN SANDWICH MERCHANDISING-MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed March 4, 1953 INVENTOR. 012/5 77:? Gage/ass BY LSQWL HTTOEA/EYJuly 7, 1959 c. GABRIELSEN I 2,393,596

SANDWICH MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. CHE/$774M @flBP/ELSL-W v MLSVQUW HTTOEA/EY U it- 11 at P en 072,893,596 SANDWICH MERCHANDISING MACHINE Christian Gabrielsen, MountainLakes, N.J., assignor to Rowe Manufacturing Co., Inc., Whippany, NJ., acorporation of New York Application March 4, 1953, Serial No. 340,247 2Claims. (Cl. 221-129 My invention relates to sandwich merchandisingmachines and more particularlyto an improved sandwich merchandisingmachine which is inexpensive to construct, simple in operation, easy tomaintain and which provides a large capacity for sandwiches or othermerchandise in a relatively small space.

In general, sandwich merchandising machines of the prior art arearranged so that the sandwiches or other articles of merchandise arestacked in vertical columns and dispensed downwardly by gravity or othersuitable means upon the initiation of the dispensing cycle. Thesevertical machines are unsuitable for use in many locations because ofspace considerations or because the height of the machine obstructs theview. Where it is necessary or desirable to utilize a low machine, amachine must be provided which is capable of storing and vendingmerchandise horizontally. I have provided an improved merchandisingmachine which is simple in operation, easy to maintain and inexpensiveto construct, in which a large quantity of merchandise is storedhorizontally in a small space in such a manner that the difficultiesencountered in the vertical machines of the prior art are eliminated.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved merchandisingmachine in which a large quantity of merchandise is horizontallyarranged in a small space.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a merchandisingmachine in which the merchandise is arranged ina number of rows,separate dispensing means are provided for each row and a common meansis provided for resetting the dispensing means.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved merchandisingmachine in which dilferent kinds of merchandise are arranged inhorizontal rows and may be selectively dispensed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improvedmerchandising machine in which a loading lock is provided for each rowof merchandise and means for releasing the loading lock when the firstvending cycle is initiated.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improvedmerchandising machine having a plurality of sections and indicatingmeans for each section operable when the section is empty.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingdescription.

In general my invention contemplates a housing divided into a pluralityof sections, a pair of horizontally extending tracks in each section toreceive the merchan disc to be dispensed, dispensing means including anejector associated with each pair of tracks, a feeder mounted on eachpair of tracks for movement therealong, means for urging each feeder andthe associated merchandise along a pair of tracks in a direction towardthe corresponding ejector, means for selectively rendering saiddispensing means active and reset means common to all dispensing meansto reset the actuated dispensing means after each dispensing operation.In addition A 2,893,596 Patented July 7, 1959 2 I provide a loadinglockfor each feeder to prevent the feeder from moving along the tracks whenits respective section is being loaded and means associated with eachpair of tracks to prevent the machine from operating when'the respectivesection is empty.

, In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instantspecification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and inwhich like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in thevarious views:

' Figure 1 is a top'plan view of my improved merchandising machine withthe top removed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional'view of the machine taken along theline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view drawn on an enlarged scale showing thedetails of the feeder of my improved merchandising machine.

Figure 6 is aschematic view showing the electrical connections of myimproved r'nerchandis'ing machine.

More particularly, referring now to the drawings, I provide a housing,generally indicated by the reference numeral'10, formed with side panels12 and 14 and front and back 'panels 16 and 18, respectively. A verticalpartition 22 between side panels 12 and 14 extends from top tobottoni'of the housing a short distance behind the front panel 16. Ahorizontal partition20 extends across the housing bet'ween'the sidepanels from the back panel 18 toward the front 'so'that its forward endlies adjacent the Vertical partition 22, and the housing is dividedgenerally into top and bottom compartments. A second vertical partition24 extends from the bottom of the housing to a point near the forwardend of the underside of partition 20 to form a delivery or dispensingchute 25, as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 2. I divide theupper compartment into a number of sections by longitudinally extendingpartitions 26 which are mounted on the horizontal partition 20. atspaced intervals.

Between each pair of panels 26 I mount guide means, such as a pair oftracks 28 and 30 which may be formed of angle irons. .Feeders, generallyindicated by the numeral 32, are mounted for sliding movement alongthese tracks. Each feeder, as can readily be seen by reference to Figure5, is formed of an upright portion 34 and a horizontal portion 36. Aplate 38 is carried by the upright portion 34 and fixed thereto bysuitable means, such as welding or the like. The horizontal portion 36of each feeder has a pair of depending flanges 40formed on either'sideadjacent the tracks 28 and 30. A first pair 'of guide rollers 42 arerotatably carried by the horizontal portion of feeder 32 so that eachengages the edge of the horizontal flange of one of the tracks 28 and 30to prevent lateral movement of the feeder. On the sides of flanges 40 Imount a second pair of guide rollers 44 to ride along the undersurfacesof the horizontal rail flanges. On the back of the upright portion 34 offeeder 32, I attach a rearwardly extending, U-shaped bracket 46 byappropriate means such as bolts 48. I mount rollers 50 on the ends ofthe legs of brackets 46 so that each rides on the upper surface of ahorizontal flange of one of the rails 28 or 30. By the cooperation ofrollers 44 and 50 with the under and upper surfaces of the rail flanges,I have prevented any tilting movement of feeder 32 and plate 38.

The merchandise to be dispensed, such as sandwiches in boxes, indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 52, is disposed in horizontal rowsbetween the partitions 26 on tracks 28 and 30 in front of feeders 32, asshown in Figures 1 and 2. It is to be noted that the'sand'wiches arearranged on the tracks 28 and 30 so that the boxes contact only theupper surfaces of the horizontal flanges of tracks 28 and 30 so that thefrictional force resisting sliding movement of the boxes along thetracks is at a minimum. To urge each of the feeders 32 and thus themerchandise in a direction toward. the dispensing chute 25, I providenegative spring 54 carried by pin 56 on a bracket 58 mounted onpartition 24 by appropriate means such as a bolt 60. By a negativespring I mean a spring which tends normally to coil rather than touncoil. The end of the negative spring 54 is attached to the horizontalportion 36 of the feeder 32 by appropriate means such as a rivet 64.Partition 20 extends part way across the chute 25 and a guide roller 66for negative spring 54 is rotatably mounted by a pin 680m a bracket70'on the end of partition 20. A plurality of leaf springs 72 attachedto partition 20 by screws 74 extend substantially across the openingbetween the end of partition 20 and partition 22 and prevent the articleof merchandise which has been urged up against partition 22 fromdropping into chute 25.

. Adjacent the top of the housing, I mount a number of dispensing levers76 around a common shaft 77 fixed in the sides 12 and 14 of the housing.Suitably shaped ejectors 78 are pivotally carried by pins 80 on the endsof levers 76. The dispensing levers 76 are actuated by links 82connected to levers 76 by pins 84 and normally urged upwardly by springs86, attached to links 82 at one end by pins 88 and fixed to the housingat the other end by pins 90 on back panel 18. The lower ends of links 82extend through openings 92 in the partition 20 and are notched at pointsindicated by reference numeral 94. I provide the rear panel 18 with anangle bracket 96 attached by screws 98 and arrange the parts so thatwhen notches 94 are engaged with the bracket 96, spring 86 cannotoperate to raise link 82 and rotate dispensing lever 76 in a dispensingdirection.

On the underside of panels 20 adjacent the partition 24, I mount anumber of solenoids 100 which are energized when the proper number ofcoins have been inserted in the coin register and the selecting switchcorresponding to the particular solenoid has been closed. Each of thesolenoids 100 has an armature 102. Links 104 are connected to armatures102 by pins 101 and to the lower ends of links 82 by pins 105.

" I dispose a bar 108 under levers 76 to be engaged by any one of thelevers during a dispensing operation. Bar 108 is connected by suitablemechanical linkage, indicated schematically by reference numeral 110 inFigure 6, to a coin tray 112. When bar 108 is moved downwardly, it tiltsthe coin tray 112 in a direction such that the coins drop into the till(not shown) through a chute 114. The coin register is indicated byreference numeral 116 in Figure 6 and may be of any appropriateconstruction, such as the type disclosed in application Serial No.166,045, filed June 3, 1950, now Patent No. 2,677,450, issued May 4,1954.

It is to be noted that I have provided my dispensing apparatus with anumber of loading locks 118, each of which may engage its respectivefeeder 32 to hold the feeder in its rearmost position against the actionof a negative spring 54 when the corresponding section is being loaded.Each lock 118 is rotatably carried by a pin 120 on a bracket 122attached to the rear panel 18 and is provided at its forward end with adepending finger 124 for engagement with its associated feeder 32. Asshown in Figure the upright member 34 of each carrier 32 has arearwardly extending flange 126 with a recess 128 therein for engagementwith finger 124. When a section is being loaded, its carrier will be inits rearmost position, indicated in broken lines in Figure 2, and thefinger 124 of the associated lock 118 will engage recess 128. Each lock118 has a second depending finger 130 at its rear end which is formedwith a cam surface 132. Each link 82 carries a pin 134 for engaging theunderside of the horizontally extending portion of the associated 4 lock118 to release the lock when link 82 is released and moved upwardlyunder the action of spring 86.

Common means is provided for resetting the dispensing mechanism, nomatter which of the dispensing members of the machine has been actuated.A plurality of curved fingers 134, one for each link 104 are mounted bysuitable means such as set screws 135 on a shaft 136 rotatably carriedin bearings 138 and 140 on the side panels of the housing. Each link 104has a pin 144 for engagement with the associated finger 134 to rotateshaft 136 and initiate the reset operation when the vending operation iscomplete. A crank 142 is fixed on shaft 136 for rotation therewith in aposition to engage the start button 146 of the reset stop-start switch148 of a motor 150. Motor 150 drives a shaft 152 rotatahly carried inbearings 157 and 159 on the sides 12 and 14 and supported at pointsintermediate its length by hearing brackets 154 and 156, fixed to theunderside of panel 20 by suitable means such as screws 155. Shaft 152carries for rotation therewith a number of reset cams 158 correspondingto the number of sections. When the vending operation is complete, thehigh point of one of the cams 158 is arranged to engage a roller 160mounted on a pin 162 carried by one of the links 104 to reset thedispensing mechanism which has been actuated during the dispensingoperation. It is to be noted that a cam 158 will always engage theroller 160 on the link 104 associated with the dispensnig mechanismwhich has been actuated.

I arrange a stop cam 164 on shaft 152 so that it engages the stop button166 of switch 148 after the reset operation has been performed. When thereset motor 150 is stopped, the parts are in the same positions whichthey occupied prior to the vending operation, and the machine is readyfor a new vending operation. It is to be noted that my reset mechanismis common to all vending sections. That is, regardless of which sectionoperates, the reset mechanism will be actuated to return the parts totheir initial positions.

A number of normally open empty switches 168 are attached to the frontpanel 16 by suitable means such as rivets '170 or the like. Theseswitches are provided with curved leaf springs 172 fixed on pins 173 onthe switch and extending into openings 174 formed in panel 22. Springs172 are adapted to bear against contacts 176 to keep the switches closedwhile merchandise remains in the sections and to flex to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 2 to allow the switches to open when the supplyof merchandise in the respective sections is exhausted. A coin returnmechanism, well known in the art (not shown), is provided to return thecoins through a coin return slot 180 shown in Figure 6 when any sectionis empty. Empty switches 168 are indicated schematically in Figure 6 bythe reference character 178.

In use, the customer first deposits the required amount in coins in thecoin register 116 and closes the switch 182 corresponding to the desiredtype of sandwich to complete the circuit of the proper solenoid 100.When the solenoid 100 is energized, its armature 102 moves to the rightas viewed in Figure 2 pulling the link 104, which is connected to thelower end of link 82 by pin 105, to the right. This motion disengagesthe notch 94 from the bracket 96 and permits spring 86 to move the link82 upwardly, thus rotating the dispensing lever 76 around shaft 77 in aclockwise direction. This rotation moves the ejector 78 downwardly intocontact with the boxed sandwich or other merchandise resting on leafsprings 72 and forces the merchandise past the springs downwardly to theposition indicated by broken lines in Figure 2.

When link 82 is moved upwardly by spring 86, link 104 is pivoted in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, about pin 101. Pin 144 onlink 104 engages its associated curved finger 134 to rotate shaft 136and the bell crank lever 142 associated therewith also in a clockwisedirection. Bell crank lever 142 engages the start button 146 of thereset stop-start switch 148 and starts motor 150 which rotates shaft 152in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2. When the dispensingoperation is complete, solenoid 100 is de-energized and shaft 152 hasrotated through an angle such that the high point of one of the resetcams 158 is in a position to engage the roller 160 on the link 104 whichhas been moved during the dispensing operation. Cam 158 moves thedisplaced link 104 in a counterclockwise direction about pin 101 and tothe left. This movement pulls link 82 downwardly against the action ofspring 86 and moves it to the left so that notch 94 re-engages bracket96, and the dispensing mechanism which has been actuated, is reset. Whenlink 82 is pulled downwardly, it rotates lever 76 in a counterclockwisedirection about shaft 77 to withdraw ejector 78, and negative spring 54moves carrier 32 along the track to push the next article of merchandiseagainst partition 22 under the ejector 78. Shortly after the resetoperation is completed, cam 164 on shaft 152 engages the stop button 166of switch 148 to interrupt the circuit of motor 150 and stop the motor.

To load any section, its carrier may be moved manually to its extremerearward position and finger 124 of lock 118 engaged with the carrierslot 128. In the course of the upward movement of link 82 when theinitial dispensing operation is initiated, pin 134 on the link movesslightly to the right and engages the underside of the horizontallyextending portion of loading lock 118 and rotates the lock 118 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, about pin 120. Thefinger 124 which is engaged with the slot 128 in its associated carrier32 is thereby disengaged and spring 54 urges the carrier forward alongtracks 28 and 30.

While merchandise remains in any particular section, the article ofmerchandise furthest forward of carrier 32 bears against spring 172 andkeeps contact 176 of the empty switch 168 closed. When the supply ofmerchandise in a particular section is exhausted, no article bearsagainst spring 172, and the spring flexes to the broken line positionshown in Figure 2, thus opening contact 176. The coins are returned bythe coin return mechanism (not shown) through slot 180 and associatedindicating means (not shown) indicates that the supply of this type ofmerchandise is exhausted.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention inproviding a merchandising machine in which the merchandise is arrangedhorizontally rather than vertically so that the machine may be used inlocations in which dispensing machines of the prior art will not fit orare not convenient or desirable. In addition I have provided an improvedmerchandising machine in which various kinds of merchandise are arrangedin horizontal rows and may be selectively dispensed. A common resetmechanism resets the dispensing mechanism regardless of which type ofmerchandise has been selected by the purchaser. I have provided such amachine in which one row is rendered operative while the other rows areprevented from operating and wherein individual loading locks areprovided for each row.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of myclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of my claims without departing from the spiritof my invention. It is therefore to be understood that my invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described. I

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A merchandising machine for sandwiches or the like including incombination a plurality of horizontally extending guides to receivearticles of merchandise to be dispensed, a plurality of dispensing meansassociated respectively with said guides and adapted when renderedoperative to deliver an article of merchandise, each of said dispensingmeans including a separate ejector, a plurality of feeders each mountedadjacent one of said guides, means for urging each feeder and itsassociated merchandise in a direction toward the corresponding ejector,means for selectively rendering said dispensing means operative todeliver an article of merchandise, a motor, a shaft driven by saidmotor, a plurality of reset cams fixed on said shaft for rotationtherewith, said dispensing means including levers having means thereonfor engagement with said cams to reset said dispensing means and meansoperated by said dispensing means for starting said motor to reset thedispensing means when the dispensing operation is complete.

2. A merchandising machine for sandwiches or the like including incombination a plurality of horizontally extending guides to receivearticles of merchandise to be dispensed, a plurality of dispensing meansassociated respectively with said guides and adapted when renderedoperative to deliver an article of merchandise, each of said dispensingmeans including a separate ejector, a plurality of feeders each mountedadjacent one of said guides, means for urging each feeder and itsassociated merchandise in a direction toward the corresponding ejector,means for selectively rendering said dispensing means operative todeliver articles of merchandise, means for resetting said dispensingmeans after the dispensing operation, a shaft having a plurality offingers fixed thereon, said dispensing means including levers havingmeans thereon for engagement with said fingers during the dispensingoperation to rotate said shaft and means on said shaft to actuate saidresetting means.

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